Oscillating engine.



No. 668,497. Patented m. 19, I90I. P. 1.. cnowz.

OSCILLATING ENGINE. {Appliution filed may 16, 1900.) (Hp Model.) I 4 Sheets-Sheet I.

31 a ll- Units PAUL L. OROVVE, OF DULUTH, MINNESOTA.

OSCILLATING ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 668,497, dated February 19, 1901.

Application filed May 16, 1900.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, PAUL L. CROWE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Duluth, in the county of St. Louis and State of Minnesola, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Oscillating Engines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. 7

My invention relates to improvements in oscillating engines.

It consists of certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of an oscillating engine constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 represents a front eleva tion of the same. Fig. 3 represents a vertical longitudinalsection through the cylinder and its hubs. Fig. 4 represents a perspective view of said engine on a modified form of bed-plate. Fig. 5 represents a horizontal sectional view through the engine-cylinder and the hub which carries the steam-chest and the cut-off valve. Fig. 6 represents a vertical sectional View through the valve mechanism and steam-chest of the engine, the cylinder being shown'in side elevation. Fig. 7 represents a cross-section through the barrel forming the steam-chest. Fig. 8 represents a longitudinal central section through the same, and Fig. 9 is a detail view illustrating the cut-0E valve.

The object of my invention is to produce an engine having a cylinder provided with hubs, and a steam-chest, exhaust-chamber, valve-seat, and valve, the cylinder being adapted to contain a piston, the hubs of said cylinder being hollow and arranged upon each side thereof to form trunnion-bearings, one of said hubs extending from the shoulder on the side of the said cylinder and being adapted to contain a steam chest and valve.

The cylinder 1 of my improved engine is formed with oppositely-extending hub portions, as 2 2, which find bearings in suitable journal-boxes, as 3 3, formed upon a baseplate, as 4. The journal-boxes 3 3 are pref- Serial No. 16,873. KNO model.)

erably arranged vertically, so that the cylin der 1 may oscillate in the vertical plane between the same, but may be arranged horizontally, if desired. In the body port-ion of my engine I construct steam-ports 5 5, lead ing from the upper and lower ends of the cylinder into one of the trunnion-hubs 2, said hub being preferably longer than the opposite hub and necessarily hollow. The bore of said hub is straight and threaded at a short distance from the outer end thereof, as at 6. Thence the bore is preferably slightly enlarged and smooth for a short distance from said point inward, as seen at 7. From this point the bore of the hub is slightly contracted and extends with a conical smooth surface from said contracted point forward for a considerable distance, the said conical portion, as 8, passing the steam-ports and leading from said hub-chamber to the cylinder 1, the wall of the cylinder forming the closed end of the said bore. Mounted in the hub 2 upon one side of the engine is a barrel, as 9, having a cylindrical portion extending the greater part of its length. At one end the barrel is slightly enlarged and is formed with a tapering conical portion, as at 10, which diminishes toward the end, at which end the conical portion is substantially of the same diameter as the aforesaid straight cylindrical portion. The said barrel 9 is closed at the conical end except for the small aperture 11, provided in the said end for the passage of the valve-spindle 12. This aperture 11 is concentric with the steam-chest 13, formed in the said barrel, which will hereinafter be more fully described. Upon opposite sides of the exterior wall of the said conical portion and about the points where the live-steam ports penetrate the shoulder upon the engine Iconstruct the shallow shoulders 14, having curved outer faces concentric with the periphery of the said conical wall. The thickness of the wall of the said barrel is variant,effecting (together with an integral partition-wall 15, constructed therein) the division of the interior of the said barrel into the cylindrical steam-chest 13, eccentric to the axis of the said barrel, and an exhaust-chamber 16 of a substantially segmental cross-section and preferably of the general contour shown in the drawings. The relation of the exhaust-chamber and the steamchest is such that of two ports 17 and 18, penetrating each of the opposite sides of the conical portion 10 of said barrel, one of the ports, as 17, on each side shall communicate with the steam-chest 13 and the other of said ports on each side, as 18, shall communicate with theexhaust-chamber16. The wall of the barrel 9,11 ear 1 he open end thereof,is further pcne trated by the threaded aperture 19, comm unicating with the said steam-chest 13, for C0111.

necting a live-steam pipe, and is also provided with another threaded aperture 20, commucating with the said exhaust-chamber and for con meeting an exhaustpipc. At the open end of the said barrel, in the end of the exterior wall thereof, maybe sunk a suitable number of threaded screw-holes, as 21 21, for receiving the bolts to secure a cap thereon, as will be hereinafter described. Within the said cylindrical steam-chest compartment of the barrel 5) I place a cut-off valve, as 22, consisting of a cup removably secured to a spindle 12, which cup is provided in its sides with nearly oppositely arranged steam-ports, as 23 and 21-, adapted when said cup is oscillated to alternately register with the opposite ports in the walls of said steam-chest, said cup fitting closely to the wall of the said chest. One end of the spindle 12 projects loosely through the center of the otherwise closed end of the said steanrchest, passing through the aperture 11, and is provided on that end with a disk or plate 25, carrying a projecting lug or finger 26. The finger 26 preferably projects parallel to the axis of the spindle l2 and is arranged eccentrically thereto upon lhcsa-id disk 25. Said finger is arranged to engage a depression, as 27, formed in the wall of the cylinder within the hub, there being, if desired, a plural number of such depressions to permit of various adjustments of said valve, so that the oscillating of the cylinder 1 and the hub over said barrel 9 will oscillate the spindle 12 and the cup 22, connected therewith, thereby cutting off and admitting pressure alternately to the exit-ports of the steam-chest, and thereby controlling its admission to the piston-ports of the cylinder. Said spindle 12 and plate 25 are preferably integral and provided with a threaded portion which engages threads in the shoulder of cup 22 and is secured in place by a lock pin or screw.

The exterior diameter of the conical portion of the barrel is formed to fit closely in the conical portion of the bore of the hub 2. There is a diametrically enlarged space in the bore of said hub, as at 28, between the end of the said barrel and the wall of the cylinder, to admit of said barrel being pushed farther in as the wearing of the parts may require. Between the outer-contracted straight portion of the said barrel and the bore of the said hub is a space, as at 29, adapted to be filled by a packing-ring 30, which is so constructed that it may be screwed into said hub between the same and the barrel and set against the enlarged end of the conical portion 10 of the said barrel and thrust the same snugly into the conical bore of the said hub. The said packing-ring may be tightened from time to time as wear between the said barrel and hub requires. A jam or lock nut, as 231, may also be screwed upon the said washer, so as to be interposed between the outer flange of the said packing-ring and the outer end of the walliof the said hub, which lock-nut may be set from time to time as required to keep the said packing-ring tightly in place. The outer end of the said barrel ll projects from the hub 2 and is adapted to be closed by means of a cap 32, secured thereon in any suitable way. A preferable way of securing the cap in place is by means of screws which engage the sockets or screw-holes 21 in the end of the barrel. The cap 32 has a rigid arm extension 33, which is secured rigidly in any suitable manner to an anchorage of some sort, preferably to the bed-plate of the engine. The extension or arm 33 is preferablysecured to the bed-plate of the engine, as seen in the drawings, by means of adjusting-screws, so that the said arm may be set in closer to the cylinder, if desired, to take up any wear between the end of the barrel and the bearing in the end of the trunnion which it engages. This construction operates to hold the barrel 9 stationary and to prevent the same from oscillating or rotating. This is necessary, as the engine-cylinder and ils hub oscillate in operation upon said barrel. The said cap 32 is further provided upon its inner surface with a recess, as at 34, to receive the end of the spindle 12 and form a bearing therefor. The cap 32 may be further provided with an aperture, as 35, through which may pass the shaft or rod of a governor-valve mechanism of any suitable construction, but which aperture 35 may in the absence of such governor-rod be plugged in any suitable manner or altogether omitted. Suitable grease-cups and oil-tunnels may be provided, if desired.

From the above description it will be seen that when the cylinder 1 oscillates it will rock back and forth upon its trunnion-hubs 2 2 and that since the barrel 9 is held stationary the steam-ports of the said cylinder will present themselves first opposite a port in the said barrel connected with the steam-chest and then with a port in the said barrel connected with the exhaust-chamber. This will cause live steam to be introduced alternately at the ends of the cylinder and to be exhausted alternately from the same. The oscillating of the cylinder 1 in connection with the disk 25 and the projection 26 will also operate the cut-off valve 22 in the steam-chest to correspond with the movement of the cylinder and open the live steam to the cylinder and then cutoff this live steam at half or mid stroke, thereby permitting the steam to expand the remaining half of the stroke before passing into the exhaust-ports of the said steam-chest.

The parts of the engine are exceedingly simple of construction and capable of being made of any desired strength and are found in practice to make a very successful oscillating engine.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An oscillating engine comprising a cylinderhaving trunnions, hubs formed thereon, one hub forming the housing of the steamchest and having 'a bearing to receive the said steam-chest, a valve mechanism connected with each end of the cylinder by means of steam-ports, a stationary steam-chest mounted in the said hub for controlling the delivery of steam to the cylinder, and means for holding the steam-chest snugly against the bearing in the hub, substantially as described.

2. An oscillating engine comprising a cylinder having hub-trunnions, one of said hubtrunnions having its hollow central portion connected with the ends of the cylinder by means of steam-ports, a non-rotatable barrel having an external bearing-surface mounted in the said hub and engaging a bearing in the same, means for holding said bearingsurfaces snugly together and means for introducing steam from the said barrel to the steam-ports, substantially as described.

An oscillating engine comprising a cylinder having hollow trunnion-hubs, one of said hollow trunnion-hubs being connected with the ends of the cylinder by means of steam-ports, a barrel extending into the said hub and held against rotation therein, the said barrel being provided with ports adapted to coincide with the ports of the cylinder, and a cut-off valve mounted in the said barrel for controlling the passage of live steam and cutting off steam in the cylinder at half the stroke, allowing the steam to expand the whole remaining half-stroke, substantially as described;

4. An oscillating steam-engine comprising a cylinder having hollow hub-trunnions, one of said hollow trunnions being connected by steam-ports with the ends of the cylinder, a conical bearing-surface formed in the said hub, a non-revoluble barrel adapted to eX- tend into the said hub and having a peripheral conical portion adapted to engage the conical surface in the hub, means for holding the said bearing-surfaces in engagement with each other, an eccentrically-arranged steamchest formed in the said barrel and having ports adapted to be brought opposite the ports leading to the cylinder, a segmental exhaustchamberformed in the said barrel and having ports adapted to receive the exhaust from the cylinder-ports, the said barrel remaining stationary while the cylinder oscillates, whereby the live steam ports and the exhaust-ports will be presented alternately to the cylinderports, substantially as described.

5. An oscillating steam-engine comprising a cylinder having suitable steam-ports leading to each end thereof, a stationary barrel extending into the body portion of the said cylinder, a partition-wall formed in the said barrel dividing the same into an eccentrically-arranged steam-chest, and a segmental eXhaustchamber, ports leading from the steam-chest and the exhaust-chamber and adapted to be presented alternately to steamports leading to the ends of the cylinder, and a cut-off valve mounted in the steam-chest for controlling the exit of live steam therefrom, substantially as described.

6. In an oscillating engine, the combination of an oscillating cylinder having hollow trunnions, ports leading from one of the said trunnions to the cylinder, a stationary barrel extending into one of the trunnions and having a steam-chamber and an exhaust-chamber formed therein, a cut-off valve mounted in the steam-chamber comprising a spindle,

a cup having steam-ports, a disk secured to the end of the spindle, and a projection on the said disk for engaging a depression in the wall of the cylinder, whereby the oscillating of the engine will control the operation of the cut-oft, substantially as described.

7. In an oscillating engine, the combination with a cylinder having hollow trunnions, one of said trunnions being connected with the ends of the cylinder by means of steamports, of a barrel extending into one of said trunnions and closed at one end, said barrel having a steam-chest and an exhaust-chamber formed therein, a cap-plate for closing the open end of the barrel, having an arm or projection adapted to be adjust-ably secured to a stationary portion of the engine or bedplate for holding the barrel against rotation, a cut-0E valve mounted in the steam-chest of the barrel comprising a cup, a spindle carrying the same, one end of the said spindle finding a bearing in the cap-plate of the barrel and the other end of the said spindle extending through the closed end of the barrel and having a disk secured thereto, a projection on the said disk extending into a recess formed in the wall of the cylinder, the construction being such that when the cylinder oscillates it will rock the spindle, a valve in the steam-chest to control the exit of steam therefrom, and a packing-ring and jam-nut for adjusting and holding the barrel in place in the said hollow hub of the engine, substantially as described.

8. In an oscillating engine, the combination Withan oscillating cylinder having hollow trunnions, one of said trunnions having a bearing-surface and being connected with the cylinder by means of steam-ports, of a non-revoluble barrel adapted to extend into the said hollow trunnion and engaging said bearing-surface, said barrel having steam exit and exhaust ports arranged near one end, an adjusting-collar for holding the said barrel against the hub bearing surface, and steam-inlet and exhaust-outlet ports arranged ICC near the other end thereof, and adjustable means for holding the barrel stationary, substantially as described.

9. An oscillating engine comprising a cylinder provided wit-h trunnionhubs, one of said hubs being hollow and preferably longer than the other, the bore of said longer hub being straight for a determined distance from its open end inuard, thence slightly enlarged for a short distance, thence contracted and continued in a converging cone, toward said cylinder, for a determined distance, thence enlarged for a short distance to the wall of said cylinder, said cone portion of said bore being connected with each end of the bore of said cylinder by suitable ports or steam-tunnels, and said outer straight portion of said hub-bore being threaded from the mouth inward a suitable distance; a barrel, partly contained within said hub-bore having straight and conical portions and containing an eccentrically-arranged live-steam chamber and a segmental exhaust-steam chamber, said chambers being each provided in the conical wall of said barrel with ports for the passage'of steam from said stean1-chamber to the hub and cylinder-ports and through which the exhaust passes from said cylinder-ports to said exhaust-chamber, said barrel being further provided, in its straight portion, with ports leading respectively into said steamchamber and out of said exhaust-chamber, for pipe connections, said steam-chamber being further apertured at its inner end for the passage of a valve-spindle, and said barrel being provided at its outer end with means for attaching a cap-plate; a valve within said steam-chamber, consisting of a cup provided with wall-ports, a spindle detachably secured to said cup, the inner end of said spindle being provided with a disk between the inner end of said barrel and the wall of said cylinder, said disk being provided with a finger parallel with said spindle but arranged eccentric-ally thereto, and adapted to engage a recess in the wall of said cylinder, the other end of said spindle engaging a recess in the cap-plate, a packing nut or ring adapted to be screwed into the mouth of said hub between said hub and the straight portion of said barrel and to bear against a shoulder on said barrel between the straight and conical portions thereof; a jam nut or ring adapted to be interposed between the head of said packing-ring and the end of said hub, a capplate secured at one end to the outer end of said barrel and adjustably secured at the other end to the bed-plate of said engine, and adapted to hold the said barrel rigid; said cylinder being provided with a suitable piston and piston-rod, and said engine supported on a suitable bed-plate or trunnion-bed, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PAUL L. CROWE.

Witnesses:

G. A. REsEK, JAMES DEvER. 

